Me to although I came across a home and was wondering this question. If a seller is selling a home with land but in the writing it says owner has all mineral rights to the land. I don't understand that .
I hope you find one. When we were young we bought a small fixer upper and learned how to fix it up . They are hard to find in nice areas, which is key, but they are out there.
Starting down the path of becoming a first time home buyer. Got our preapproval, now it’s just buckling down and trying to find a place. So glad I stumbled upon your channel.
These days, the stair lifts even the playing field a lot. Moving isn’t in the cards for everyone and it’s a large financial commitment and prohibitive for many.
If you live anywhere in the Sunbelt, I recommend a single story home because you will save money on your A C bill. If you have 2 stories, the upstairs will need its own unit as well, which will double the cost.
All I want is a very small ranch, 1,000 sq. ft., to retire in. There are plenty of those in the small city I want to be in, but none currently on the market.
Very typical. Builders no longer want to build houses for one and two people, but there are more single people and couples THAN EVER in the market for houses. There was a time that the two-bedroom, one or one-and-a-half bathroom, one garage-stall house was common, but now it's like builders are allergic to them. It's not even very easy to find good floorplans for them. So the ones that survive in the housing stock in many areas are often in high demand...driving up the prices, which removes one of the reasons to want such a house in the first place!
@@mikethebeginner good point. plenty of 4b 3ba new builds in my area, but zero new starter homes. young families/single people are having to compete with retirees now. bidding wars over any 2b 2ba hitting the market in a decent neighborhood in my area 🫤
the reason is because cost of built to code no longer make sense for house less than 2000sft even 2500 sft with all the cost of land, foundation/crawspace and utility. All need to up to code and also making profit.
Like Jackie said, I would recommend a ranch. I own one and they are really good for those who have difficulty with stairs, as well as very easy to maintain the exterior including but not limited to window washing, gutter cleaning, simple roof repair, power washing, etc. They are generally more protected from roof damage from high winds if they are in communities with several two-story homes, as well as less damage prone from second floor plumbing disasters.
Grew up in a Cape Cod style home on top of a hill. I definitely want my first home to be Cape Cod style. True the home definitely felt cozy!! My Mom sold the house. Sad. 😢
My grandfather, a master carpenter, built the house I inherited. Again and again I've heard contractors saw in awe "This house is still square." I finally figured out that means it hasn't shifted or sunk anywhere.
My grandfather, a master carpenter, built the house I inherited. Again and again I've heard contractors saw in awe "This house is still square." I finally figured out that means it hasn't shifted or sunk anywhere. Oh, it's a classic square cape cod.
Modular homes also have to be built sturdily because they have to stand up to the rigors of being moved. The bad aspect is that the parts don't always fit together on site as well as homes that are stick-built on site. And the designs are limited because of the size limits on the modules--the floor plans are often "two row," meaning two lines of boxes next to each other. Finally, like buying cars, the "options" are sometimes limited to what the manufacturer wants to provide and include. They're not custom homes.
I have always hated contemporary houses, even as a kid. Other than the porch, I had a hard time understanding what was distinctive about a farmhouse. My favorite is the craftsman.
I bought a modular home because I was divorcing and wanted a quick turnover, as well as cost and carbon footprint. I’m happy with my home, but I advise everyone to consider the work is being done somewhere else. Some of the finish work on my house was not good, but I was not on sight catch it and get it fixed. All the shelves were hung crooked. One part of the kitchen countertop was mounted 90 degrees different than the rest. Issues like that.
We built a modular home. We had the same issue with some of the finished work. but any thing that was done in the factory, they drove here to MI from OH 3hrs to fix no questions asked. We had some siding issues that the finishers did wrong it kept blowing off. Unibilt came and re did it all. haven't had a problem since and that was 20 years ago. ours is a two story colonial over 2700 Sq foot. I love it. But as any home. After living in it for several years there are a few things I would have changed if I were to build again.
The type of homes one should consider buying are those that suit that particular buyer... regardless of what some 'expert' tells you. My Dad bought a 19th century home in MN that had 15 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a 100' ballroom with a total of 35,000 sf. On 10 acres. All for 50K in 1966. We had 8 kids at the time (ended up with 11) and though it wasn't a good fit for probably 99% of homebuyers, it was the perfect fit for our family.
@@bellakim9404 Who TF are you or anyone else to discount another solely because your life experiences aren't identical?! There was a time in which large families were quite common - that is the timeframe from which I come.. I stand by what I said... buy the home that best suits your family regardless of what some 'expert' says.
@cliffthatcher4574 first off, the tone that is represented in your response is hostile and unbecoming of a gentleman. Step back and catch your breath. Noone was discounting anyone. Your emotional attachment to your initial reply is creating a personal attack from my response. The OP was eluding to what will always be needed/wanted relevant in any time period, etc. That's all... (it wasn't to discount what worked for Your family.) Have a great day! & happy holidays :)
I have a 95 year old cape cod style bungalow in northeast Ohio. I've lived in it for 6 years. Other than having to update all the electrical wiring and all the bathroom drains from steel/iron to pvc (sink, tub, and toilet) it's been a good house. The house still sits level, and the basement doesn't leak. Structurally, it's very solid.
The drain pipe that matters is the cast iron sewer under the house, not the small portion inside the house. When cast iron collapses, and it will, it will be very expensive to replace. Cast iron rusts and leaks, forms sort of stalactites on the inside, eventually collapsing on itself, per my plumber and inspector, and tree roots are attracted by water. For this reason, I look for homes build 1980 and onward only or for homes with sewer lateral replaced. People had to dig up finished basements and demolish garages to replace cast iron sewer drain. Lifetime is 40-80 years.
Houses made until the early 80’s were built to last.... not anymore and you have to keep maintaining them by replacing stuff... good for Home Depot and Lowe’s
Thank you, Jackie for this series of home-buying videos. I've learned a lot. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas, a wonderful holiday season and an even better 2025. - Thomas
We were still in our 40's when we went from a four story victorian home of 2100sq/ft to a one floor ranch of 1800sq/ft (in 2018). We realized two things. One we were never going to move again and two, we are aging and with that comes no more stairs. We downsized so the house would be easier to clean and we don't need everything we had. We bought our cozy ranch without an open floor plan. We paid for the house with the cash we got from the sale of our first house. It was a total win for us. *I was unsure about not having stairs before we moved, but my husband convinced me it would be a good investment. He wasn't wrong, because there are hardly any ranches left. The few I've seen cost a small fortune.
Yes, absolutely. having rooms on the above floors are preferred such as bedrooms, office guest room. Away from the downstairs rooms like the living room, dining room, kitchen, and separate bonus room. Open floor plans are problematic in terms of privacy. Due to the absence of walls making it difficult to organize separation of activities. Which can be difficult and disruptive for focusing on work study relaxation creates less cozy atmosphere and clutter can be more noticeable! An essence it creates design challenges. Temperature control is more difficult. Walls do solve lots of problems. For example: Your son wants to have his friends over - but you want to finish up some work in the office. And open floor plan would not be advisable. Open floorplans are becoming less desirable year after year, which is not my opinion but according to home shopper preferences. Remember, your energy costs are a lot less but more efficient when you have a home that is compartmentalized. Not my words, you could look it up
I can’t stand an open floor plan. I wish we never bought this townhouse with an open floor plan. Who wants their kitchen sink in the middle of the living room.
I love colonial homes. We have owned several. Unfortunately, not readily available in Dallas, TX. 😢 I love antiques and 18th century furniture. Had to leave much of that behind in Philly, mostly because we downsized. Our new house is completely brick, very popular here, and therefore very energy efficient ( but maybe that is because it is much smaller). The house is growing on me and I am so very grateful that we can afford a house in retirement. I just miss the style of housing from the Northeast. We lived in Williamsburg, VA when we were first married. That was home design heaven to me!!
@@Lck1972 I just bought a house in Dallas suburbs and it's brick and siding. I believe it's actually brick veneer, not brick. Are you sure your house is brick? They stopped doing full brick in the 50s or 60s.
fear a housing crash due to people buying homes above asking prices with little equity. If prices drop, affordability and potential foreclosures may arise, worsened by future layoffs and rising living costs. I want to invest more than $300k, but I'm not sure on how to mitigate risk.
Contemplate shifting your investments from real estate to other dependable options such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or precious metals. Severe recessions present potential buying opportunities in the market, but it's essential to approach them cautiously due to the volatility that can provide short-term trading possibilities. While not offering financial advice, it could be prudent to consider investing, given that holding onto cash may not be ideal during this period.
Agreed, instead of panic or following a hearsay, I simply adopted the service of an advisor early 2020 amid covid-outbreak, and so far, I've attained my most measurable financial milestone of $900k after subsequent investments.
I have been working with ““Melissa Terri Swayne”” whose expertise in portfolio diversification is unsurpassed and client-focused, I have made more profits with her guidance than I ever did when I tried navigating the markets on my own.
I just looked her up on the internet and found her webpage with her credentials. I wrote her an outlining my financial objectives and planned a call with her.
Contemporary homes tend to have a funky floor plan here in NY with sleeping areas scattered throughout the dwelling. Very hard to find comparables as an appraiser.
Right, ranch style is the only type when I was looking for a home. It will avoid noise if you have family walking upstairs and have everyone stay at the same level.
I live in a rancher, and I’m so excited to move to a two-story home because all of the noise from the living area travels straight down the hall to the bedrooms. Keeping a baby asleep while doing anything in the kitchen is nearly impossible. If the house is sturdily built and upstairs is carpeted, it shouldn’t be too loud for whatever is happening downstairs.
@@jenniferroberts6498 I second that. More annoying noise from the same plane. It has to be really cranked up to hear through floors. Most of the time, people won't hear you calling.
We really like ranch style homes but given their larger footprint (since all of the square footage is on the ground level), they tend to require a larger lot, which is probably why home builders today aren’t really building many of them in our area. Re-roofing one is a bit more expense as well.
I'm in the southwest. I will never buy another flat roof stucco home again. Current house is a brick house with pitched roof and an attic for storage since there's no basements. The 8 foot ceilings if light right are fine, and saves about 30% in heating and cooling.
*Question for you(may be odd but real):* if someone looking for Home for small family size, but also considering option(down the lane say after 10 year) of giving on rent a room/portion with separate entrance & no disturbance, what kind of home or features one should keep in mind, what fits the best for this kind of situation, or how this can be targetted in a least hurdle way. Thanks
Great video one thing you missed about ranch style homes is they usually sit on wider lots since they require more ground space for occupying the bedrooms and living area
Love your style. It’s informative and easy to understand. All of the homes mentioned in this video are single family. Do you have any thoughts on types of homes in urban areas? I know very little about what makes a condo or row home a good buy. What should prospective homebuyers in dense walkable cities look for?
I grew up in a 70s ranch style house. It was not an open floor plan. I bought a 70s ranch style house. It was not an open floor plan. I liked having distinct rooms. Another style she didn’t mention was a berm house. I have only seen a few of them. I wonder what the pros and con would be besides difficulty renovating but weather resistant….
I love my style of house. Im in SoCal, our house was built in 1965. We have two living rooms and two dining areas. With the kitchen being in the middle. But the interesting thing is we have three bedrooms downstairs, including the primary. Then upstairs we have two bedrooms and 1 bathroom that my older sons refer to as their apartment lol. None of the bedrooms are on top of each other which is nice. What would that style be?
Well, if and when it comes time for me to build my dream home, I will consider modular homes, if they are truly customizable. I have so many details and things I want to incorporate into my home, like thicker interior walls for insulation and built ins, storage nooks and such.
So out of curiosity, any suggestions on where to buy reliable well made modular homes? Or at least ways to look for a reliable manufacturer. I mean I hear all sorts of horror stories and when considering such homes I would like reliable quality.
The local builder matters more than the factory maker. That said, you need outside experts to double check their work, from the blueprints to the insulation installation. Be prepared to pay for those expert's time!
Sounds like Manhatten beach CA....lol. this lady is originally from Monroe CT. The housing market from her location to where you are may be quite different.
Hi Jackie! Thank you so very much for the breakdown it's very helpful! From what I understand modular homes are built even better than site built homes because they are in a factory and they don't get exposed to weather conditions like other homes being built on site, also as you mentioned the strength that they have to be made for regarding transportation!
Yes. Lead paint is a problem when chipping or renovating, you need to control the dust and basically toss any carpets. Asbestos was only in 2 places usually, exterior tiles, or pipe insulation in the basements. Same thing, only a problem when it is turned into dust. Unless you have small children, it isn’t going to be a theeat to your health.
Yes. Always check for disclosure have the paint tested down multiple layers in every room. If there is no damage to the house, lead paint is not a problem if it has been properly “encapsulated” and painted over. Asbestos is a little trickier in that if it is in a place that can be become damaged like walls or ceilings it can be a problem. It also can be “encapsulated” ( sealed ) to prevent it from being a problem. Any house prior to the 80’s is extremely likely to have these problems. If you have young children or some other situation that has a high risk of damaging the walls or ceiling, then you are going to need to get full remediation, which is not outrageously expensive these days, but is definitely not a small additional cost
I wish I could buy a home, but they’re just so expensive to purchase and maintain. I’m already 60 yrs old and have to rent. Those who are rich enough to purchase are fortunate.
The type of house you should buy is the one that is no more than 25% of your net income, and make sure you count the true cost of ownership! You’ll thank me later!!😊
Clay roofs are a nightmare to maintain in wet climates because of mold discoloration. The choices are hire a roof cleaner and risk a broken tiles and leaks or let it just look worse and worse.
Three floor ranch houses are the worst. Most of the square footage is taken up by multiple stair cases, which means tiny bedrooms, kitchen and living room with an enormous basement room with no obvious purpose.
Split level are typically not a huge hit with many people since when you walk through the door you have to choose between going up a set of stairs or down a set of stairs and you typically have a very small entry way without a closet and lots of them do not have basements. They usually look so pretty from the road but are a pain for day to day life. Imagine coming home from the grocery store with an infant and a bunch of groceries and your entry way is jammed up with everyone’s shoes and coats. Or the elderly who struggles with stairs who is forced to do them whenever they need to enter or exit the home.
@@colleenmeisenzahl And the largest room in the house is on the lowest level and prone to flood in a heavy rain storm. It is also not much good for anything. If used as a play room you can't monitor the activity of the children.
Hi I’m an Army veteran can you please explain to me how the loan works as far as where the closing costs are waved . I have tried to buy a house but feel like I’m not being explained any thing and I am a new home owner.
@ I thought I found one 2 years ago but I had to back out of the deal. I never went with the inspector that my agent had “found” . That said agent told me that I needed to tell the seller about the VA home loan before I could get the no down payment , then I paid his inspector 500 dollars for something I didn’t even see! I really don’t trust them around here .
Hi.. What is your opinion on Multi-Family Homes? Regardless of the Architectural style, how good of an investment is it? And what are the pros and cons?
I grew up in a Dutch colonial built in 1918 and loved it. The only drawback were the tiny closets but as a child i had few clothes anyway. We moved out in the 1980s. Now when i visit the house area i am saddened by how the house has gotten shabby in appearance. I really wish someone would buy it and restore it to its true beauty
I'm looking forward to your insights on home types!🏡 Choosing homes with energy-efficient features, like solar panels or updated HVAC systems, can be a smart move for long-term savings and sustainable living.
Our split level was a great starter house. I also loved that all the water lines and plumbing went straight up the middle and attached to the central wall decreasing materials and potential leaks.
we don’t have all these houses in germany. interesting to see. in suburban areas you almost always have a whole row of houses built side by side, if you’re lucky you get a double-house-half. only in new constructed areas or towards the countryside you get free-standing-houses.
How do you stop the real estate agent from stealing from escrow? This has happened to me before and I don’t want it to happen again. It was in Sharon MA. His name is Mark Cohen. It was a horrible experience…. How do you find an honest agent?
I want a first home but only if its a 2 or 3 family house as i want to rent out one floor to help with the mortgage. But its so hard to find something within a 1 hour commute from nyc for 600k which is my budget.
3 families? what reality do you live in. There is a custom h9me in my neighborhood that just went up for sale, a 3 bedroom rancher but then they added 3 bedrooms on the other side so 6 bedrooms total. I can see 2 families living there.... it's 849k and in Philadelphia!
@@y.peffle2802and that is fine guess its better to buy land in another country and live with my parents for the foreseeable then. Its gonna be the sad reality for millions of first time home owners.
Are bungalow style homes on the buy or don't buy list? By bungalow I mean the square floor plans. Often there is a front porch that goes across the front of the home. If there is a second floor it fits underneath a steepened roof and peaks out with dormer windows.
Boy…I dislike Colonial homes so hard and that would be the norm for California buyers. Keep in mind that real estate trends are always local. Contemporary ranch homes are excellent if you’re thinking about sustainability, maximizing natural light, solar power, design flexibility and so much more. That tends to be very popular here.
The Mediterranean style home is what I would buy if my income were a few tax brackets higher. Otherwise, if someone is shopping for a home by style, I'd say go with a style that you can enjoy learning more about or talking about. It's nice when you're in a home and you like thinking about its history.
Thinking about the house's history and experiencing the history of the house are two sides of the same coins. Meaning it's fun to think about who lived there and what was that time period like, but on the flip side having to upkeep, repair and upgrade an old house certainly comes with a high cost. Typically older homes have many issues from drafts and water leakage to old pipes and out of date electrical wiring. Working on an old home can be even more expensive if the style and design is kept true to the period.
@@Ninjanimegamer I guess the way I think of "history" is in a looser sense; even a brand new, modern construction has a story to tell--about the materials, the art movements that led to its style, etc. Otherwise I completely agree, older homes can be beautiful and fun to talk about but require a lot of work.
We want to retire to Prescott, AZ and thought we could purchase a lot and put in a modular home, but we have found that the majority of the properties for sale, do not allow it. Stick built only they say. You have to go really far out into the country to be allowed to have a modular home, which I don't understand as we think they are very nice homes. Personally, I would love to have a colonial house but since we are in the south west, that isn't going to be an option.
@cackleberrycottage2340 because of developers, builders and realtors cartel....all conspire against modular because they lose money. No comission needed to buy a modular
I love searching for homes, even if I can't afford one nor even think of owning one anytime soon
@@taiguy53 man it’s torture
@@taiguy53 in the same boat.
Same!
Me to although I came across a home and was wondering this question. If a seller is selling a home with land but in the writing it says owner has all mineral rights to the land. I don't understand that .
Me too, i'm buying my own land and building my own home back in my home country, tax free.
I can't wait to buy my first house! But first I have to win the lottery.
Nahhhh just find a hidden gem or change areas.
I hope you find one. When we were young we bought a small fixer upper and learned how to fix it up . They are hard to find in nice areas, which is key, but they are out there.
It should not be this way. We need to pressure our lawmakers to do something to kick corporations out of buying up all of our homes!!!!!
Starting down the path of becoming a first time home buyer. Got our preapproval, now it’s just buckling down and trying to find a place. So glad I stumbled upon your channel.
Thanks for watching! Wishing you luck on your home search! Keep me posted!!
Please purchase for less than the lender wants to lend you. Don't be house poor. Best of luck in your search.
My uncle said, if you have kids, 2 story. As you get older- ranch. The less stairs the better.
These days, the stair lifts even the playing field a lot. Moving isn’t in the cards for everyone and it’s a large financial commitment and prohibitive for many.
Yep for retirement ranch in HOA neighborhoods
@@Anonyme67 No to HOAs. They are tinpot local govts that can take your house away. For people who crave living in dollhouses.
If you live anywhere in the Sunbelt, I recommend a single story home because you will save money on your A C bill. If you have 2 stories, the upstairs will need its own unit as well, which will double the cost.
@@calmman32 stairs will keep you alive
All I want is a very small ranch, 1,000 sq. ft., to retire in. There are plenty of those in the small city I want to be in, but none currently on the market.
Very typical. Builders no longer want to build houses for one and two people, but there are more single people and couples THAN EVER in the market for houses. There was a time that the two-bedroom, one or one-and-a-half bathroom, one garage-stall house was common, but now it's like builders are allergic to them. It's not even very easy to find good floorplans for them. So the ones that survive in the housing stock in many areas are often in high demand...driving up the prices, which removes one of the reasons to want such a house in the first place!
@@mikethebeginner good point. plenty of 4b 3ba new builds in my area, but zero new starter homes. young families/single people are having to compete with retirees now. bidding wars over any 2b 2ba hitting the market in a decent neighborhood in my area 🫤
You and everyone I know want this unfortunately! Lots of us Gen X and Boomers looking for a good downsize! Very frustrating!
the reason is because cost of built to code no longer make sense for house less than 2000sft even 2500 sft with all the cost of land, foundation/crawspace and utility. All need to up to code and also making profit.
Go manufactured on your own land.
Like Jackie said, I would recommend a ranch. I own one and they are really good for those who have difficulty with stairs, as well as very easy to maintain the exterior including but not limited to window washing, gutter cleaning, simple roof repair, power washing, etc. They are generally more protected from roof damage from high winds if they are in communities with several two-story homes, as well as less damage prone from second floor plumbing disasters.
Grew up in a Cape Cod style home on top of a hill. I definitely want my first home to be Cape Cod style. True the home definitely felt cozy!! My Mom sold the house. Sad. 😢
Ohhh I hate open floor plans especially with a family of 5! 😅 thankful we found a colonial with lots of escape rooms lol😅
Very true.
Too bad you didn't mention anything about the craftsman type of home. Love those types of designs.
Most Craftsman homes are 100 years old or more, and therefore typically require a lot of renovation.
My grandfather, a master carpenter, built the house I inherited. Again and again I've heard contractors saw in awe "This house is still square." I finally figured out that means it hasn't shifted or sunk anywhere.
My grandfather, a master carpenter, built the house I inherited. Again and again I've heard contractors saw in awe "This house is still square." I finally figured out that means it hasn't shifted or sunk anywhere.
Oh, it's a classic square cape cod.
Craftsman style homes are my favorite.
Modular homes also have to be built sturdily because they have to stand up to the rigors of being moved. The bad aspect is that the parts don't always fit together on site as well as homes that are stick-built on site. And the designs are limited because of the size limits on the modules--the floor plans are often "two row," meaning two lines of boxes next to each other. Finally, like buying cars, the "options" are sometimes limited to what the manufacturer wants to provide and include. They're not custom homes.
I have always hated contemporary houses, even as a kid.
Other than the porch, I had a hard time understanding what was distinctive about a farmhouse.
My favorite is the craftsman.
I love craftsman style homes.
I bought a modular home because I was divorcing and wanted a quick turnover, as well as cost and carbon footprint. I’m happy with my home, but I advise everyone to consider the work is being done somewhere else. Some of the finish work on my house was not good, but I was not on sight catch it and get it fixed. All the shelves were hung crooked. One part of the kitchen countertop was mounted 90 degrees different than the rest. Issues like that.
We built a modular home. We had the same issue with some of the finished work. but any thing that was done in the factory, they drove here to MI from OH 3hrs to fix no questions asked. We had some siding issues that the finishers did wrong it kept blowing off. Unibilt came and re did it all. haven't had a problem since and that was 20 years ago. ours is a two story colonial over 2700 Sq foot. I love it. But as any home. After living in it for several years there are a few things I would have changed if I were to build again.
The type of homes one should consider buying are those that suit that particular buyer... regardless of what some 'expert' tells you. My Dad bought a 19th century home in MN that had 15 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a 100' ballroom with a total of 35,000 sf. On 10 acres. All for 50K in 1966. We had 8 kids at the time (ended up with 11) and though it wasn't a good fit for probably 99% of homebuyers, it was the perfect fit for our family.
I believe she is sharing information relevant to a family without 11 kids and who are mainstream America.
@bellakim9404 right? What kind of a clown comment is this lolol
@@bellakim9404 Who TF are you or anyone else to discount another solely because your life experiences aren't identical?! There was a time in which large families were quite common - that is the timeframe from which I come.. I stand by what I said... buy the home that best suits your family regardless of what some 'expert' says.
@cliffthatcher4574 first off, the tone that is represented in your response is hostile and unbecoming of a gentleman. Step back and catch your breath. Noone was discounting anyone. Your emotional attachment to your initial reply is creating a personal attack from my response. The OP was eluding to what will always be needed/wanted relevant in any time period, etc. That's all... (it wasn't to discount what worked for Your family.) Have a great day! & happy holidays :)
@@bellakim9404 very rude response.
I have a 95 year old cape cod style bungalow in northeast Ohio. I've lived in it for 6 years. Other than having to update all the electrical wiring and all the bathroom drains from steel/iron to pvc (sink, tub, and toilet) it's been a good house. The house still sits level, and the basement doesn't leak. Structurally, it's very solid.
The drain pipe that matters is the cast iron sewer under the house, not the small portion inside the house. When cast iron collapses, and it will, it will be very expensive to replace. Cast iron rusts and leaks, forms sort of stalactites on the inside, eventually collapsing on itself, per my plumber and inspector, and tree roots are attracted by water. For this reason, I look for homes build 1980 and onward only or for homes with sewer lateral replaced. People had to dig up finished basements and demolish garages to replace cast iron sewer drain. Lifetime is 40-80 years.
@John1908-vo1iv I've had a camera ran through it. So far so good. If and or when it collapses, I'll deal with it when it happens.
I grew up in NE Ohio, Mentor Headlands and later, Madison.
@sidney4329 it's very nice over there! 👍👍
Houses made until the early 80’s were built to last.... not anymore and you have to keep maintaining them by replacing stuff... good for Home Depot and Lowe’s
Thank you, Jackie for this series of home-buying videos. I've learned a lot.
I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas, a wonderful holiday season and an even better 2025. - Thomas
Thank you Thomas! Merry Christmas and wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2025!!!
I just want a house, period.. even accomplishing just that in nj is tough enough
We were still in our 40's when we went from a four story victorian home of 2100sq/ft to a one floor ranch of 1800sq/ft (in 2018). We realized two things. One we were never going to move again and two, we are aging and with that comes no more stairs.
We downsized so the house would be easier to clean and we don't need everything we had. We bought our cozy ranch without an open floor plan. We paid for the house with the cash we got from the sale of our first house. It was a total win for us.
*I was unsure about not having stairs before we moved, but my husband convinced me it would be a good investment. He wasn't wrong, because there are hardly any ranches left. The few I've seen cost a small fortune.
Yes, absolutely. having rooms on the above floors are preferred such as bedrooms, office guest room. Away from the downstairs rooms like the living room, dining room, kitchen, and separate bonus room.
Open floor plans are problematic in terms of privacy. Due to the absence of walls making it difficult to organize separation of activities. Which can be difficult and disruptive for focusing on work study relaxation creates less cozy atmosphere and clutter can be more noticeable!
An essence it creates design challenges.
Temperature control is more difficult.
Walls do solve lots of problems.
For example:
Your son wants to have his friends over - but you want to finish up some work in the office. And open floor plan would not be advisable.
Open floorplans are becoming less desirable year after year, which is not my opinion but according to home shopper preferences.
Remember, your energy costs are a lot less but more efficient when you have a home that is compartmentalized.
Not my words, you could look it up
The huge retiring population does not want master bedrooms on the second floor.
An open floor plan is also easier to maneuver in a wheelchair.
Open floor plan homes were a terrible idea from the start. So glad that they are going out of style.
@@serahloeffelroberts9901 Just make the doors wider or switch swing wide hinges.
I can’t stand an open floor plan. I wish we never bought this townhouse with an open floor plan. Who wants their kitchen sink in the middle of the living room.
I love colonial homes. We have owned several. Unfortunately, not readily available in Dallas, TX. 😢 I love antiques and 18th century furniture. Had to leave much of that behind in Philly, mostly because we downsized. Our new house is completely brick, very popular here, and therefore very energy efficient ( but maybe that is because it is much smaller).
The house is growing on me and I am so very grateful that we can afford a house in retirement. I just miss the style of housing from the Northeast. We lived in Williamsburg, VA when we were first married. That was home design heaven to me!!
@@Lck1972 I just bought a house in Dallas suburbs and it's brick and siding. I believe it's actually brick veneer, not brick. Are you sure your house is brick? They stopped doing full brick in the 50s or 60s.
Are you sure your Dallas house is brick? I think most are brick veneer
There is no such thing as "Starter home" in 2024. Please stop clowning us first time home buyers by mentioning this archaic concept 😑
Talk to us after your balls drop.
@@DoubleAIV 💯💯💯
fear a housing crash due to people buying homes above asking prices with little equity. If prices drop, affordability and potential foreclosures may arise, worsened by future layoffs and rising living costs. I want to invest more than $300k, but I'm not sure on how to mitigate risk.
Contemplate shifting your investments from real estate to other dependable options such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or precious metals. Severe recessions present potential buying opportunities in the market, but it's essential to approach them cautiously due to the volatility that can provide short-term trading possibilities. While not offering financial advice, it could be prudent to consider investing, given that holding onto cash may not be ideal during this period.
Agreed, instead of panic or following a hearsay, I simply adopted the service of an advisor early 2020 amid covid-outbreak, and so far, I've attained my most measurable financial milestone of $900k after subsequent investments.
nice! once you hit a big milestone, the next comes easier.. who is your advisor please, if you don't mind me asking?
I have been working with ““Melissa Terri Swayne”” whose expertise in portfolio diversification is unsurpassed and client-focused, I have made more profits with her guidance than I ever did when I tried navigating the markets on my own.
I just looked her up on the internet and found her webpage with her credentials. I wrote her an outlining my financial objectives and planned a call with her.
In Miami. 1700 square foot home. Good enough for me. Not sure what type of home but it's a one floor with attached garage. CBS Block built home.
That's the type of home I need in Florida
Contemporary homes tend to have a funky floor plan here in NY with sleeping areas scattered throughout the dwelling. Very hard to find comparables as an appraiser.
Right, ranch style is the only type when I was looking for a home. It will avoid noise if you have family walking upstairs and have everyone stay at the same level.
I live in a rancher, and I’m so excited to move to a two-story home because all of the noise from the living area travels straight down the hall to the bedrooms. Keeping a baby asleep while doing anything in the kitchen is nearly impossible. If the house is sturdily built and upstairs is carpeted, it shouldn’t be too loud for whatever is happening downstairs.
@@jenniferroberts6498 I second that. More annoying noise from the same plane. It has to be really cranked up to hear through floors. Most of the time, people won't hear you calling.
We really like ranch style homes but given their larger footprint (since all of the square footage is on the ground level), they tend to require a larger lot, which is probably why home builders today aren’t really building many of them in our area. Re-roofing one is a bit more expense as well.
But at the same time, re-roofing is safer and easier, because the roofs tend to be flatter, meaning easier to walk on, and closer to the ground.
Split foyers suck imo, and they are everwhere in my town. I like the look of the midcentury modern homes
Hey Jackie 👋 you’re a good content creator
Thank you for sharing. Please do a video on homes that u would buy so we can see some good side of examples as well.
Sure thing!
I just sold my 1300 sq ft colonial cottage in one weekend, without a realtor. Retiring
@@beingjohn392 congratulations. Have a peaceful retirement.
@@beingjohn392
Can you share a little more information?
I want to sell my home , but I don't know, or want to use a realtor...
Thank You in advance 🤠
NICE!!! Now get out and don't look back!
Congratulations 🎉
Ranch on a basement or bust! ❤
That's all there is in our neighborhood. The neighborhood was built in the '50's and they have not been added on to.
I definitely want a ranch style home ❤
Affordability and location are paramount for me!
I'm in the southwest. I will never buy another flat roof stucco home again. Current house is a brick house with pitched roof and an attic for storage since there's no basements. The 8 foot ceilings if light right are fine, and saves about 30% in heating and cooling.
Ngl this just feels like a list of every style of home 😂
there are a lot more styles than this.
*Question for you(may be odd but real):* if someone looking for Home for small family size, but also considering option(down the lane say after 10 year) of giving on rent a room/portion with separate entrance & no disturbance, what kind of home or features one should keep in mind, what fits the best for this kind of situation, or how this can be targetted in a least hurdle way. Thanks
Modifications that are to the exterior usually depend on the lot size more than the particular style of home
Great video one thing you missed about ranch style homes is they usually sit on wider lots since they require more ground space for occupying the bedrooms and living area
This is why I was told to for budget reasons look for two story because the lot can be smaller.
Love your style. It’s informative and easy to understand. All of the homes mentioned in this video are single family. Do you have any thoughts on types of homes in urban areas? I know very little about what makes a condo or row home a good buy. What should prospective homebuyers in dense walkable cities look for?
@@colinmccullough8404 she does not recommend buying condos, she made a video about it
We have a ranch and my kids always wanted a second floor. Cape cods are so charming
I grew up in a 70s ranch style house. It was not an open floor plan. I bought a 70s ranch style house. It was not an open floor plan. I liked having distinct rooms.
Another style she didn’t mention was a berm house. I have only seen a few of them. I wonder what the pros and con would be besides difficulty renovating but weather resistant….
Can you do one on log cabin please? Your channel is great!!!
Few people want to purchase a log cabin.
@@shnuggumz True! I wonder why? Is it hard maintenance? Or all about looks or location, like the mountains etc.
Cabins require a lot of maintenance
I live in a custom Tudor. The craftsmanship is beautiful. Everyone says it looks like a fairytale house.
Why do real estate agents always call them “homes,” instead of houses? If someone lives there it is their home, but you buy a house, not a home.
Old Victorian all the way! Love our 1903 Painted Lady
I love my style of house. Im in SoCal, our house was built in 1965. We have two living rooms and two dining areas. With the kitchen being in the middle. But the interesting thing is we have three bedrooms downstairs, including the primary. Then upstairs we have two bedrooms and 1 bathroom that my older sons refer to as their apartment lol. None of the bedrooms are on top of each other which is nice. What would that style be?
Well, if and when it comes time for me to build my dream home, I will consider modular homes, if they are truly customizable. I have so many details and things I want to incorporate into my home, like thicker interior walls for insulation and built ins, storage nooks and such.
So out of curiosity, any suggestions on where to buy reliable well made modular homes? Or at least ways to look for a reliable manufacturer. I mean I hear all sorts of horror stories and when considering such homes I would like reliable quality.
The local builder matters more than the factory maker. That said, you need outside experts to double check their work, from the blueprints to the insulation installation. Be prepared to pay for those expert's time!
Where I live, bungalow is everywhere especially for older houses. Housing is expensive here too. It is not on your list😮
@@jlseagull2.060 hi. I like the bungalow style home and wonder if you might mind sharing your general area where these types of houses are plentiful.
Sounds like Manhatten beach CA....lol. this lady is originally from Monroe CT. The housing market from her location to where you are may be quite different.
Hi Jackie! Thank you so very much for the breakdown it's very helpful! From what I understand modular homes are built even better than site built homes because they are in a factory and they don't get exposed to weather conditions like other homes being built on site, also as you mentioned the strength that they have to be made for regarding transportation!
"Farmhouse" now refers to a hybrid of traditional farmhouse and contemporary. Neither fish nor fowl.
Isn't lead and abestos a problem with older homes?
Yes. Lead paint is a problem when chipping or renovating, you need to control the dust and basically toss any carpets. Asbestos was only in 2 places usually, exterior tiles, or pipe insulation in the basements. Same thing, only a problem when it is turned into dust. Unless you have small children, it isn’t going to be a theeat to your health.
Yes. Always check for disclosure have the paint tested down multiple layers in every room. If there is no damage to the house, lead paint is not a problem if it has been properly “encapsulated” and painted over. Asbestos is a little trickier in that if it is in a place that can be become damaged like walls or ceilings it can be a problem. It also can be “encapsulated” ( sealed ) to prevent it from being a problem. Any house prior to the 80’s is extremely likely to have these problems. If you have young children or some other situation that has a high risk of damaging the walls or ceiling, then you are going to need to get full remediation, which is not outrageously expensive these days, but is definitely not a small additional cost
What about brick ranch style homes built in 1978?
I wish I could buy a home, but they’re just so expensive to purchase and maintain. I’m already 60 yrs old and have to rent. Those who are rich enough to purchase are fortunate.
All these are soo cute, sadly I can barely afford one of those plastic ones for kids
The type of house you should buy is the one that is no more than 25% of your net income, and make sure you count the true cost of ownership! You’ll thank me later!!😊
My homestyle is old and secluded
The downside of colonial homes (1st style mentioned) is that you most likely will need to hire a stranger to clean it.
Clay roofs are a nightmare to maintain in wet climates because of mold discoloration. The choices are hire a roof cleaner and risk a broken tiles and leaks or let it just look worse and worse.
Good thing it doesn’t rain much in CA.
Excellent presentation.
If you do a modular home, is there a pre-drywall inspection and if so, is it done by someone you choose or in-house?
I enjoy all of your videos Thank you
What about split level homes these are popular in NY
They suck
Three floor ranch houses are the worst. Most of the square footage is taken up by multiple stair cases, which means tiny bedrooms, kitchen and living room with an enormous basement room with no obvious purpose.
Split level are typically not a huge hit with many people since when you walk through the door you have to choose between going up a set of stairs or down a set of stairs and you typically have a very small entry way without a closet and lots of them do not have basements. They usually look so pretty from the road but are a pain for day to day life. Imagine coming home from the grocery store with an infant and a bunch of groceries and your entry way is jammed up with everyone’s shoes and coats. Or the elderly who struggles with stairs who is forced to do them whenever they need to enter or exit the home.
@@colleenmeisenzahl And the largest room in the house is on the lowest level and prone to flood in a heavy rain storm. It is also not much good for anything. If used as a play room you can't monitor the activity of the children.
I like the videos that shows the things we should avoid... but is time for something different! Lets enjoy the ride 😅
Hi I’m an Army veteran can you please explain to me how the loan works as far as where the closing costs are waved . I have tried to buy a house but feel like I’m not being explained any thing and I am a new home owner.
Hi! You should speak with a lender that specializes in VA loans.
@ I thought I found one 2 years ago but I had to back out of the deal. I never went with the inspector that my agent had “found” . That said agent told me that I needed to tell the seller about the VA home loan before I could get the no down payment , then I paid his inspector 500 dollars for something I didn’t even see! I really don’t trust them around here .
I was just super confused and got yelled at by my agents boss for backing out, but nothing was signed so I had that right to back out.
Great video!
Short and Sweet. ❤
Modular homes are built to a different standard than homes built on site.
This was a very informative and well done video. Thank you!
Hi.. What is your opinion on Multi-Family Homes? Regardless of the Architectural style, how good of an investment is it? And what are the pros and cons?
I grew up in a Dutch colonial built in 1918 and loved it. The only drawback were the tiny closets but as a child i had few clothes anyway. We moved out in the 1980s. Now when i visit the house area i am saddened by how the house has gotten shabby in appearance. I really wish someone would buy it and restore it to its true beauty
@@serahloeffelroberts9901 probably too expensive to rehab.That would be my guess.
@lisalawson7195 A coat of paint isn't that expensive.
First house was 1200 sq ft. Current house is 1500 sq ft. Love my energy bills.
I'm looking forward to your insights on home types!🏡 Choosing homes with energy-efficient features, like solar panels or updated HVAC systems, can be a smart move for long-term savings and sustainable living.
No split levels?????
Our split level was a great starter house. I also loved that all the water lines and plumbing went straight up the middle and attached to the central wall decreasing materials and potential leaks.
This was so helpful! Thank you! 😊
Grew up in a ranch style
we don’t have all these houses in germany. interesting to see. in suburban areas you almost always have a whole row of houses built side by side, if you’re lucky you get a double-house-half. only in new constructed areas or towards the countryside you get free-standing-houses.
You have more options if you take back your country from migrant invaders.
what about multi-family homes?
I love the look of a good Mediterranean style home, but half the people I’ve seen in New Jersey end up making their house look like a Olive Garden.
Lol
😂
How do you stop the real estate agent from stealing from escrow? This has happened to me before and I don’t want it to happen again. It was in Sharon MA. His name is Mark Cohen. It was a horrible experience…. How do you find an honest agent?
How about craftsman’style?
Bottom line for me, I know what I want and need. I'm just trying to find it in an area that I like.
I live in Arizona so a lot of those styles of homes are not common here 😢
I want a first home but only if its a 2 or 3 family house as i want to rent out one floor to help with the mortgage. But its so hard to find something within a 1 hour commute from nyc for 600k which is my budget.
oof, i don't envy y'all in the northeast one bit. market seems really tough out there. good luck on the search!
3 families? what reality do you live in. There is a custom h9me in my neighborhood that just went up for sale, a 3 bedroom rancher but then they added 3 bedrooms on the other side so 6 bedrooms total. I can see 2 families living there.... it's 849k and in Philadelphia!
@@y.peffle2802where in Philly ?
@@y.peffle28022 family is fine doesnt have to be 3 family but it is what it is ill just live with my parents if not possible.
@@y.peffle2802and that is fine guess its better to buy land in another country and live with my parents for the foreseeable then. Its gonna be the sad reality for millions of first time home owners.
Great home selections and I like Gambrel with dormers.
I love dormers! But when I research roofs I get told they are weak from an engineering point of view. :(
Hey there- my husband and I are planning to buy a home in fall 2025. Do you know any good realtors in San Antonio?
Are bungalow style homes on the buy or don't buy list? By bungalow I mean the square floor plans. Often there is a front porch that goes across the front of the home. If there is a second floor it fits underneath a steepened roof and peaks out with dormer windows.
Wow this was a much better video no stupid clown glasses or jokes
So all of the homes then. Just buy all of the homes.
Boy…I dislike Colonial homes so hard and that would be the norm for California buyers. Keep in mind that real estate trends are always local. Contemporary ranch homes are excellent if you’re thinking about sustainability, maximizing natural light, solar power, design flexibility and so much more. That tends to be very popular here.
Contemporary gives me a visceral feeling of disgust. They look like ugly boxes. No window hides that.
@ a bad contemporary house is indeed like a box and appear cold. If it’s done right they can be creative and bold.
The Mediterranean style home is what I would buy if my income were a few tax brackets higher. Otherwise, if someone is shopping for a home by style, I'd say go with a style that you can enjoy learning more about or talking about. It's nice when you're in a home and you like thinking about its history.
Thinking about the house's history and experiencing the history of the house are two sides of the same coins. Meaning it's fun to think about who lived there and what was that time period like, but on the flip side having to upkeep, repair and upgrade an old house certainly comes with a high cost. Typically older homes have many issues from drafts and water leakage to old pipes and out of date electrical wiring. Working on an old home can be even more expensive if the style and design is kept true to the period.
@@Ninjanimegamer I guess the way I think of "history" is in a looser sense; even a brand new, modern construction has a story to tell--about the materials, the art movements that led to its style, etc. Otherwise I completely agree, older homes can be beautiful and fun to talk about but require a lot of work.
We want to retire to Prescott, AZ and thought we could purchase a lot and put in a modular home, but we have found that the majority of the properties for sale, do not allow it. Stick built only they say. You have to go really far out into the country to be allowed to have a modular home, which I don't understand as we think they are very nice homes. Personally, I would love to have a colonial house but since we are in the south west, that isn't going to be an option.
@cackleberrycottage2340 because of developers, builders and realtors cartel....all conspire against modular because they lose money. No comission needed to buy a modular
@@John1908-vo1iv I suppose it cuts out a lot of middle men.
How about by level house ?
Farmhouse style is a fad that is being overdone.
Not if you're Bob Evans !
It’s Arts and Crafts. There is a timeless apeal of plain quality buildings.
What about a split level?
hi, how do get a modular home i live in Maryland
Colonial homes barely exist on the west coast, so the ones you see are newer builds and look out of place
Love my Center Hall Colonial 🎉
❤❤❤❤❤ I needed this!
How about Barndos?
I like Craftsman Styled Homes.
Very informing. Great video.